Who Is My Husband
Scene 9

Kailee listened as the voices in the room started to become clear.

“What was one of them doing this far out? I thought they didn’t come this far.”

Kailee recognized Lance’s voice as she stirred a bit. She was laying on a soft mattress and had a small cover over her. Her eyes opened and she tilted her head to the side. She saw Lance sitting by the bedside along with the other man she saw briefly.

“I see you are finally awake.” The man said with a kind smile. “How are you feeling?”

“Overwhelmed. Confused. Annoyed. Oh physically? I guess that feels fine.” Kailee shifted upwards to sit. That’s when her eyes widened. She really did feel fine physically. She reached her hand over to her stomach and then to her thigh. She couldn’t feel any pain. Nor could she feel the bandages. It was like it all vanished.

“Are your wounds hurting?” Lance asked with concern as he moved over and sat at the edge of the bed.

Kailee looked up at him quietly. Her eyes were scared and confused. But she didn’t know these people. She knew nothing about them. What would they think if her wounds miraculously healed? She wasn’t even sure she knew what to think. Sure, magic existed in this world. But most of the magic healers and the magical creatures lived in a different area. They didn’t come into this area of the kingdom.

“Kailee, you’ve got to talk to me. I’m not a mind reader and you are scaring me.” Lance looked up to the other man and then back to her.

“I’m scaring myself.” Kailee inhaled a deep breath as she dug her fingernails into her skin.

“Kailee, I’m Trey’s cousin Reggie. You can trust talking around me.” The man walked around and squatted in front of Kailee. His green eyes bore into her.

Kailee looked at him briefly before returning her gaze to her hands. What was going on with her? What was this pain that kept happening? And what did that wolf want with her?

She felt a warm callused hand wrap over the top of hers.

“Are your wounds hurting? Did they tear back open?” Lance asked as he held onto her hand. “I can go get Cookie or I can take a look at it. I am married and I promise it is just to look.”

“It’s not there.” Her voice barely whispered out.

“I’m sorry, what is not there?” Lance asked in soothing tones.

“The wounds are not there.” Kailee looked over at him with scared eyes. “I… I’m really confused.”

Lance looked over at Reggie and then back to Kailee. “Let me see.”

Kailee grabbed the bottom of her dress and lifted it up to expose her upper thigh. She was also looking at it curiously. Her skin looked completely fine. The stitches were not even there.

“How deep was the wound?” Reggie asked as Kailee lowered her dress back down. She had forgotten momentarily about the other guy in the room.

“Deep enough that it required stitches.” Lance said as he glanced cautiously over to Kailee.

“What is going on…?” Kailee bit her bottom l*p feeling extremely vulnerable. She was out of her element here. She barely knew these people and something strange was happening with her.

“Did you know that wolf earlier?” Reggie asked as he studied Kailee. She shook her head no. “Hmm that is interesting because it didn’t seem like he wanted to hurt you.”

“I don’t think he did. I’ve never seen a wolf that big before.” Kailee said quietly.

“That wasn’t an ordinary wolf that is why. That was a werewolf and I’m curious why he was interested in you. He is far from his territory here.” Reggie said as he held an accusing eye on Kailee. “You wouldn’t happen to be part werewolf would you?”

Kailee raised her eyebrow up at him. “Are you serious?”

“It’s just I heard Cain and Abel have taken to you right away too. And I can sense a strong power inside of you. It makes sense.” Reggie stood up with a small shrug.

“Why is all this weird stuff happening to me today.” Kailee pouted into her hands.

“Quite the birthday huh?” Lance chuckled.

“Wait what? Today is her birthday?” Reggie asked as his eyes looked to Kailee to confirm this. He watched her nod her head yes and then a frown formed over his lips.

“I turned twenty today.” She started feeling that weird pain early this morning. Was that connected to her birthday then? “The pain I had earlier I also had this morning… is it because of my birthday?”

“Trey left me a note explaining about this morning. I think it is connected to your birthday. But why… that I am not sure of.” Reggie took a step closer to Kailee and placed both of his hands on the side of her face. He moved his face dangerously close to hers as he stared into her eyes. “You’re blocking me.” He pulled back and clicked his tongue in agitation.

“I’m what? How do I unblock you?” Kailee didn’t know what any of that meant.

“You don’t even recognize the power inside of you let alone be able to control it. But this is very interesting. Trey picked an interesting bride.” Reggie chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. “You have no other relatives that are b***d related? Your uncle isn’t related by b***d, correct? Only through marriage.”

“That is correct. I never knew anyone else on my mother’s side. And my fathers parents passed away when I was only a baby. There isn’t anyone else that I am related to that I know of.” Kailee’s voice was soft.

“Could you understand the wolf Kailee?” Lance asked and she snapped her gaze over to him. “It just seemed like you were able to understand him with how you were talking to him.”

“Yeah and that phoenix seemed very concerned about you.” Reggie said thoughtfully.

“Sparks!” Kailee said with wide eyes. Sparks knew what was going on. He could tell her more.

“He flew off towards the forest when we started carrying you back here.” Lance watched as her shoulders fell slightly. He could see her fingers shaking slightly. She was feeling overwhelmed. “Kailee.” Lance smiled at her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I want us to be close. I want you to feel comfortable with us. I know that trust takes time to build but… we can only help if you tell us what you know.”

“What did the wolf say to you?” Reggie asked. She must have understood the wolf since she didn’t immediately deny it.

“That he needs me to wake up. And that he would be back for me…” Kailee felt her chest squeeze as she admitted her secret.

“How long have you been able to speak to animals?” Reggie asked.

Kailee shook her head no. “I can’t understand animals. But I have always been able to talk with Sparks and um… I have also spoken to a manticore once when I was really young.” She balled her hands up on her lap. She had never told anyone before, and she was telling this to strangers. But she was scared. Something kept burning her on the inside. And this Reggie guy seemed to have a power of his own. At least to some degree. Not to mention she needed someone she could trust. She was tired of being alone. She had trusted Sparks, but the phoenix was definitely keeping secrets from her. “Am I… um…”

Reggie smiled and reached out to Kailee’s hand. “There isn’t anything wrong with you. You are just more special. You are more than just a human. But what… I am not sure. Maybe a type of sorceress? Or a shifter of sorts? It is hard to tell until you completely wake up.”

“You seem really calm about all of this. This area is a very normal area. Magical people and creatures do not live here. It is almost like a myth here.” Kailee watched as his grin widened.

“Well, I am not from these parts. This is very normal where I am from. However, you are quite the interesting pickle. You don’t conform with anything that I know. You are a lovely prize. I can’t wait to replace out more about you.” Reggie released her hand and straightened up. “It’s too bad Trey found you first.” He gave her a small wink.

“Don’t even Reg.” Lance said in a low annoyed voice. “She is off limits.”

“What?” Reggie shrugged. “I know quality when I see it. And I am not afraid to voice that.” Reggie turned and gave Kailee a wry grin. “Just saying I am not afraid to show my face to you, so you know exactly what you are getting.”

Lance helped Kailee to her feet and then kept his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry Kailee. I’ll protect you from all the beasts that may be after you.” He squeezed her shoulder gently. “You are safe here.”

“Well, I am famished. Little Miss slept through lunch and I am ready to eat a couple of helpings for dinner.” Reggie walked up and opened the door.

“Come on Kailee. You need to eat something too. Try not to overthink things. There isn’t anything to worry about. You are just a special person, and your secret is safe with us.” Lance tugged her along gently.

What did being a special person even mean? They both seemed more relaxed and almost disinterested. Like whatever was going on with her was normal for them. Well it wasn’t normal for her. She bit her inner bottom l*p as she walked down the long hall. She didn’t know why but her thoughts suddenly went to Trey. She wondered what he would think. He thought he was marrying just a normal girl. Would he even want her now?

She tried to sort out her own feelings. Why did she even care how he thought about her? Was it because deep down she still wanted him to want her? She didn’t even know who he was. Maybe he was really Grum? After all he had supposedly left on the trip with her husband. Nothing made sense. What was up with the mask anyways? She was just told it was just how it had to be for now. But why? She could trust these people with her secrets, but they couldn’t trust her with theirs?

She guessed it made sense if she had some sort of magical b***d inside of her. It was the reason she could speak to animals. Even though she didn’t exactly know what kind of magic it was nice to have a small answer about herself. There wasn’t anything more she could do about replaceing answers at this moment. However, the next time she saw Sparks she was going to ask him what he knew. She wondered if he would tell her, or would he be another one keeping secrets from her.